wrote on Thursday. Iran Focus
Independent sources supervising the referendum on the constitution point out that there has been much vote-rigging in some Shiite cities controlled by armed militia, the daily al-Dastour wrote.
There are several armed Iraqi militia backed by Iran in southern Iraqs Shiite cities.
It stated that many of the guards at polling stations were members of armed militias, adding, After the closing of the polls, they added fraudulent votes in favour of the constitution.
Separately, the Jordanian daily al-Ray wrote on Monday that the Iraqi constitution would give Tehran more influence in southern Iraq.
Saudi Arabia believes that since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iran has taken advantage of the rise of the Shiites [in Iraq”> and is disintegrating the central government to control the country’s south. Riyadh is worried that a positive vote on Saturday’s referendum will deepen religious discord and also Iran’s influence. A Saudi official said the constitution gives the Iranians or Iraqis affiliated with Iran influence in the seven southern provinces to unite the region in an autonomous framework which will lead to a Shiite Islamic Republic [in Iraq”>, al-Ray said.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi daily al-Eteja al-Akher wrote on Wednesday that Iranian influence in Iraq would definitely force other regional and international forces to unite and set up fronts against this influence.
